Liquid dispenser and applicator



Aug. 14, 1962 D. M. ACKERMAN 3,048,881

LIQUID DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR Filed Oct. 3, 1958 jI Gl .1: 1] Z/ INVENTOR. B04457? J14. flC/(EEM/M/ ATTORNEY.

United Patent Ofltice 3,048,881 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 3,048,881 LIQUID DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR Dolletta M. Ackerman, 720 N. Orange Grove, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,151 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-572) This invention relates to dispensing and liquid applying devices. It is directed more particularly to a dispensing and application device designed primarily for liquid or semi-liquid materials, such as creams, lotions, solutions and the like and is especially useful for the application of cosmetics and medicinal preparations.

An object of this invention is to provide in a liquid dispenser of the type described a rotatable ball applicator, and improved sealing and feeding means therefor, designed to be fitted Within a supporting structure positioned on a receptacle or container.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the ball applicator in a device of this type wherein the ball may be readily removed for cleaning by washing and then replaced.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means for supporting and containing a ball to be used as an applicator which can be readily separated to permit removal and cleaning of the ball.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means associated with the cap itself for supporting the ball while permitting ready removal of the ball for cleaning and other purposes.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and the drawings described therein.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are provided for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in longitudinal cross section and partly in elevation illustrating the upper portion of a receptacle for liquid together with a cap and applicator means positioned over the opening of the container.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating the components of FIG. 1 in separated or exploded form.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse cross section partly in elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of an element of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating another modification of the invention positioned within a cap.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal transverse cross section taken along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating a modified form of the invention in which the ball is supported in a structure affixed to the cap for the receptacle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a suitable receptacle 10, which may be of glass, metal, plastic or other material is provided, preferably having a threaded neck portion as shown. Cap 11, which is preferably of plastic or hard rubber is formed with inner threads to be threaded over corresponding threads formed in the neck portion of the container. The cap is provided with a central opening 11a which is formed with an inner surface 11b as shown in FIG. 2. A flat member 12 formed of rigid plastic material is provided with a central opening 13 having an inner flanged surface 13a. The flat member 12 is formed with a plurality of openings 18 provided therethrough, the purpose of which will be described further below. Attached to and suspended from member 12 is another flattened gasket or washer member 1-4 provided with opening 15 which is formed with an inner flange area 15a. Preferably the inner flange area 15a is rounded so that the contact with the ball is a line contact to minimize binding while permitting uniform seating. If desired, the washer member 14 may be in the form of a toroid or of a ring having a circular cross section. The member 14 is also provided with upwardly extending prongs or similar members 16 which may be formed integrally with member 14 during the manufacture thereof. The prongs 16 are provided with enlarged ends or tips 17 which are so designed that they may be forced through openings 18 so that member 14 will be suspended therefrom but can be separated by forcing these enlargements through the openings when it is desired to remove the ball 19 which is positioned between members 12 and 14 and retained in position seated in openings 13 and 15 and in rotatable engagement with the flange areas 13a and 15a. These flange surfaces may have a slight taper to conform with the curvature of the ball. In order to permit forcible insertion of the enlarged ends 17 into openings 18, it is preferred that either or both of members 12 and 14 be formed of a slightly resilient material, such as rubber, polyethylene, or other flexible or semi-rigid plastic. The ball may be formed of rubber, plastic or metal, but rigid or semirigid plastics, such as polystyrene or polyethylene are preferred. In positioning the ball assembly and the cap member over the neck of the bottle, the assembled unit which consists of elements 12 and 14 with the ball 19 positioned therebetween is in turn positioned within the neck of the bottle so that the unit is held suspended from the lip thereof by the edges of menrber 12 which has a diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of the neck or of the opening of the bottle. Cap 11 is then positioned over the neck of the bottle and threaded downward until opening 11a and flange 11b surround and/or engage the exposed surface of the ball to the desired extent. At the same time, member 12 is clamped down against the lip of the container. The openings in members 11 and 12 may be so designed that when the cap is clamped all the way down, the ball can still rotate to a desired extent thus permitting the liquid to be applied to the skin or other surface when the container is tilted and the contents thereof are distributed over the surface of the ball. The rotary action of the ball thus permits distribution of the liquid over the desired area. On the other hand, by so designing the opening in the cap that when it is screwed down over the neck of the bottle it will engage the surface of the ball tightly, it can clamp the ball and at the same time form a seal preventing any flow of liquid therebetween. In such case, of course, by slightly loosening the cap, rotation of the ball and formation of a liquid film therearound is permitted so that the material can be distributed by rotating the ball over the desired surface. The ball may be protected against undesired contact and at the same time further sealing of the contents can be obtained by providing a cap member 21 which is designed to flt over and engage projecting flange 20 of the cap. Of course, any other type of cap or similar enclosure may be provided, if desired.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which receptacle 22 is provided with a cap member 23 designated to be attached by threads as shown. Member 24 is formed as a depending cup or receptacle and is provided with a top horizontal flange member 25, depending wall portion 25a and the bottom member 251) for-med with an opening 26, which in turn is provided with a flange area 27 as shown more particularly in FIG. 4. Member 24 may be formed of any desired material, such as plastic, rubber or metal. During use, member 24 is positioned Within the neck of container 22 with outwardly extending flange 25 positioned on and engaging the lip of the receptacle. Ball 28 is then positioned within opening 7 O 26 and is seated in engagement with flange 27 which may around the neck of the container, and since it is provided with opening 29, which defines a flange area adjacent the outer surface of the ball, the ball is contained between the cap and the receptacle 24 and the openings in the cap and receptacle are so designed that the ball projects beyond these openings and at point-s such that the ball is retained against downward or upward movement due to the fact that the openings encompass the ball above and below its axis. The cap member may be so designed that the opening will permit rotation of the ball even though the cap is screwed on to its maximum extent, or if desired, the opening may be so designed that the cap will be in clam-ping engagement with the ball when the cap is rotated a sufficient distance around the neck of the receptacle. In this case rotation of the ball and the flow of the liquid therearound may be permitted by unscrewing the cap to the desired extent. The cap may be provided with an upwardly extending flange member 30 which is adapted to engage a cap of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. When it is desired to remove the ball for cleaning or otherwise, the cap is unscrewed and the ball readily drops out as is apparent from the drawings. At the same time, member 24 which retains the ball against downward movement may also be removed for washing or otherwise.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 6. In this form of the invention container 3 1 is provided with a cap member 32 adapted'to be threaded over the neck thereof. Rotatable ball 33 is held in position between a pair of spring members, each of which is provided with arms and extensions thereof shown at 34, 35, 36, and 37, and 38, 39, 40 and 41 respectively. These spring members are formed with looped portions I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser comprising a receptacle having a vertically extending neck portion leading to an opening having a lip, a first planar horizontal member positioned within said neck portion and having an opening therein adapted to form a ball seat, a ball seated in said opening, a second planar horizontal member having an opening therein through which said ball projects, said second member having an outer diameter greater than the opening in said neck portion, the outer edge of said second member being seated on said lip, a plurality of prongs each having a length which is less than the diameter of said ball, said prongs being connected between said first and second members to thereby suspend said first member and a portion of said ball within said neck portion, and a cap member engaging the neck portion of said receptacle and having an opening therein through which said ball protrudes, said opening in said cap having a diameter less than the diameter of said ball whereby said ball is rotatably positioned between the opening in the cap member and the seat of the said first horizontal member, said second horizontal member being clamped to said neck portion by the inner surface of said cap.

'2. A liquid dispenser comprising a receptacle having a vertically extending neck portion leading to an opening, a first planar horizontal member having an outer diameter less than the diameter of the opening in said neck portion, said member having a plurality of upwardly extending prongs about the periphery thereof and defining an opening therein adapted to form a ball seat, a ball seated in said opening, a second planar horizontal member hav- 42 and 43 which are bent downward and horizontally to form a seat for the ball and at the same time have a diameter of such that these looped portions will engage the lip of the container as shown in FIG. 6. The arm end extensions thereof are bent upwardly and outwardly so that they will engage the inner surface of the cap in a groove or recess 44 which is provided for this purpose. In assembling the unit, the ball is positioned within opening 46 in the cap and the spring members are forced into position around the other side of the ball with their pro jecti-ng arms engaging the recess in the cap thus holding the ball between the spring members and the cap as shown in FIG. 6. The opening of the cap is so designed that when the cap is threaded around the opening of the receptacle it will engage the outer surface of the ball while exerting pressure on the spring members. A controlled degree of rotation of the ball is permitted depending upon the amount of spring pressure which is exerted. The spring pressure is controlled by tightening or loosening a plurality of peripheral openings therein for receiving said prongs in detachable relationship, thereby to inlterconnect said members in spaced apart relationship, said second planar horizontal member defining an opening to receive said ball, said second horizontal member having a diameter, greater than the inner diameter of said neck portion, the outer edge of said second horizontal member ing the cap. Flange is provided on the cap for the will be apparent to others skilled in the art as coming.

within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

being seated on the mouth of said neck portion, said prongs each having a length which is less than the diameter of said ball to thereby suspend said first member and a portion of said ball within said neck portion, and a cap member engaging the neck portion of said receptacle and having an opening therein through which said ball protrudes, said opening in said cap having a diameter less than the diameter of said ball whereby said ball is rotatably positioned between the opening in the cap member and the seat of said first horizontal member, said second horizontal member being clamped to said neck portion by the inner surface of said cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,414 Testa Oct. 16, 1934 2,700,784 DeBrock Feb. 1, 1955 2,807,817 Ackerrnan Oct. 1, 1957 2,912,708 Schaich' Nov.,17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 967,607 France Mar. 29, 1950 

